Method and system to increase electric brake clamping force accuracy

A system for increasing accuracy of clamping force of electric aircraft carbon brakes of an aircraft having a plurality of wheels and a corresponding plurality of wheel brakes for the plurality of wheels to reduce brake wear when the aircraft is taxiing, the system comprising:

• a first portion of a plurality of electric brake actuators of each brake with a first range of low brake clamping force responsive to low brake clamping force commands;
• a second portion of a plurality of electric brake actuators of each brake with a second range of high brake clamping force responsive to high brake clamping force commands;
• means for monitoring commanded initiation of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes of the aircraft;
• means for setting a residual brake clamping force to a predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force for the plurality of wheel brakes in response to said commanded initiation of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes;
• means for actuating said first portion of electric brake actuators to apply said predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force once wheel braking is commanded and maintaining said predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force despite a commanded release of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes;
• and
• means for actuating said second portion of electric brake actuators only when the commanded braking force is in the second high range of brake clamping force.

A method and system for increasing accuracy of clamping force of electric aircraft carbon brakes of an aircraft having a plurality of wheels and a corresponding plurality of wheel brakes for the plurality of wheels to reduce brake wear when the aircraft is taxiing, comprising the steps of:

• providing a first pair of electric brake actuators of each brake with a first range of low brake clamping force responsive to low brake clamping force commands, and a second pair of electric brake actuators of each brake with a second range of high brake clamping force responsive to high brake clamping force commands;
• monitoring commanded initiation of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes of the aircraft;
• setting a residual brake clamping force to a predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force for the plurality of wheel brakes in response to said commanded initiation of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes;
• actuating said first pair of electric brake actuators to apply said predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force once wheel braking is commanded and maintaining said predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force despite a commanded release of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes;
• and
• actuating said second pair of electric brake actuators only when the commanded braking force is in the second high range of brake clamping force.

A system for increasing accuracy of clamping force of electric aircraft carbon brakes of an aircraft having a plurality of wheels and a corresponding plurality of wheel brakes for the plurality of wheels to reduce brake wear when the aircraft is taxiing, the system comprising:

• a first pair of electric brake actuators of each brake with a first range of low brake clamping force responsive to low brake clamping force commands;
• a second pair of electric brake actuators of each brake with a second range of high brake clamping force responsive to high brake clamping force commands;
• means for monitoring commanded initiation of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes of the aircraft;
• means for setting a residual brake clamping force to a predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force for the plurality of wheel brakes in response to said commanded initiation of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes;
• means for actuating said first pair of electric brake actuators to apply said predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force once wheel braking is commanded and maintaining said predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force despite a commanded release of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes;
• and
• means for actuating said second pair of electric brake actuators only when the commanded braking force is in the second high range of brake clamping force.